Police: Sleeping man unaware of car being on fire

Jose Payan, 40, had fallen asleep at the wheel before the car caught fire, police said.

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By Staff Reports

Middletown Transcript

By Staff Reports

Posted Nov. 19, 2012 at 2:08 PM
Updated Nov 19, 2012 at 2:11 PM

By Staff Reports

Posted Nov. 19, 2012 at 2:08 PM
Updated Nov 19, 2012 at 2:11 PM

Middletown, Del.

A man who police said was drunk did not realize that his car was engulfed in flames when the front end caught fire Nov. 18.

Jose Payan, 40, had fallen asleep at the wheel before the car caught fire, police said.

At around 10:03 p.m., Middletown police and fire personnel were called to the 600 block of North Broad Street for a vehicle fire.

When they arrived, the front end of the 2000 Mitsubishi Eclipse was fully engulfed in flames, police said. It was initially believed that the car was unoccupied, but rescue personnel found Payan asleep at the driver's seat.

Payan was unaware that his running vehicle was on fire, police said.

He was treated at the scene and taken to the Christiana Medical Center where he was treated for smoke inhalation.

Payan was later released and cited for driving under the influence of alcohol.